UFC Sells for $4 Billion: Biggest Sports Purchase of All Time

Ultimate Fighting Championship has some new parents. The fighting company, founded in 1993, was bought for $4 billion by talent agency WME-IMG and, per ESPN, "its owner Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and MSD Capital, the investment firm of Michael Dell." The article also says the UFC purchase is "the most expensive transaction for an organization in sports history." UFC was previously bought for $2 million in 2000.

The co-CEOs of WME-IMG, Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell, stated that they're "now committed to pursuing new opportunities for UFC and its talented athletes to ensure the sport's continued growth and success on a global scale."

UFC co-owner Lorzena Fetitta, who will now leave his post, shared the following statement:

"We're confident that the new ownership team of WME-IMG, with whom we've built a strong relationship over the last several years, is committed to accelerating UFC's global growth. Most importantly, our new owners share the same vision and passion for this organization and its athletes."

The government of Abu Dhabi will continue controlling a 10 percent stake in the UFC. Read more about today's transaction at the New York Times' site.

For a slight left-turn while sticking in the arena of sports-about-beating-each-other-up, watch Fuse talk to WWE veteran Rey Mysterio about lucha libre wrestling: